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Revision as of 17:48, 27 December 2006 by Rumpelstiltskin223 (talk | contribs) (→Biography)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Commander Deanna Troi is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe, played by the actress Marina Sirtis in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise (the latter two only in guest appearances), and in several Star Trek films.
Biography
Template:Spoiler According to her personnel file seen in the episode "Conundrum", Deanna Troi was born on March 29, 2336. She was born near Lake El-Nar, Betazed to parents Betazoid Ambassador Lwaxana Troi and the late Starfleet Lt. Ian Andrew Troi (whose name is given in the "Conundrum" file as "Alex Troi"). Troi had a sister named Kestra whom she never knew. Kestra died in a drowning accident while Deanna was a baby ("Dark Page" TNG). Unlike her mother, who was a saucy, carefree spirit, Deanna was quiet and reserved and often embarrassed by her mother's jaunty behavior.
The Troi family lived on Betazed near Lake El-Nar until Kestra, Deanna's older sister, died. Being brought up on Betazed, Deanna had little access to human culture, but her father used to read Western stories to her every night and from that, she fostered a lifelong interest in the genre. According to her personel file, she attended Starfleet Academy from 2355 to 2359, as well as advanced study at University on Betazed with a degree in psychology.
As a child, Troi was 'genetically bonded' to a human boy called Wyatt Miller, which meant that they would marry once they were old enough. However, the day before it was due to take place, the wedding was called off ("Haven", TNG).
Troi was ship's counselor on the USS Enterprise-D and also subsequently on the USS Enterprise-E.
Troi, though lacking the full Betazoid range of mental abilities because of her half-human heritage, is an extra-sensory empath which often comes in use when dealing with hostile aliens. One notable exception to this is her inability to read the Ferengi during TNG episode "The Last Outpost" (Ferengi minds cannot be read by the telepathic abilities of Betazoids or Vulcans).
In 2364, she joined as a lieutenant commander on the Enterprise-D and in 2370 was promoted to commander ("Thine Own Self", TNG).
In 2365, Deanna had a son, named Ian Andrew after her father, as a result of an impregnation by an energy being seeking to learn more about humans by living a human existence. The child aged rapidly and died after several days ("The Child", TNG).
During a biennial trade conference circa stardate 43930 on Betazed, Troi, her mother, Betazed Ambassador Lwaxana Troi, and Commander William T. Riker were abducted by the Ferengi from one of its large parklands.
In 2372, following the crash-landing of the Enterprise-D (Star Trek: Generations), she was transferred to the Enterprise-E.
In 2379, after an on-again/off-again relationship which solidified in Star Trek: Insurrection, Deanna Troi married then-Commander William Riker and transferred to the USS Titan with her husband when he assumed command of the vessel (Star Trek: Nemesis).
Biography notes
According to the novel Imzadi, Troi became interested in Starfleet as a career after a romantic involvement with William Riker. However, Star Trek novels are generally not considered canon.
In an alternate future created by Q in TNG's final episode, "All Good Things...", Troi dies of unknown (but apparently tragic) causes in 2377, an event that causes a rift to develop between Worf (with whom she was briefly romantically linked near the end of the series) and Riker. Jean-Luc Picard prevents these events from happening by revealing the future to his crew.
Criticism of the character
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Commander Troi was considered by some to be one of the less popular characters on the series, partly because of a perceived worthlessness of her character's position in the show and partly because in many episodes her dialogue accomplished little but to state what was already obvious (such as the famous "I sense <emotion>, Captain," after that emotion had already been adequately demonstrated by dialogue or special effects). However, later in the show, there were some attempts to broaden her characterization, including training for a promotion to full commander. She also proved successful in undercover work on several occasions. Ronald D. Moore, one of the producers of TNG and executive producer of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, identified Counselor Troi as one of the show's most embarrassing features, noting that having a psychotherapist as a member of the command-level crew was a very obvious relic of the 1980s New Age culture.
Another debatable aspect of the character was her costuming; although a Starfleet officer, she dressed in civilian clothes, often form-fitting jumpsuits and during one season an exotic-looking dress. It has even been quoted by Sirtis herself that her role was to make the show sexier. She switched to a standard uniform in the sixth season of TNG when Troi was ordered to don a regulation uniform by temporary Enterprise captain Edward Jellico (during a period when Picard was on an undercover assignment). The producers decided that Troi looked good in a regular uniform, so the new look was kept. Her character became more likeable when she became more of an officer and less of a therapist. In Star Trek: Insurrection, there is a scene where Troi is sitting in the command chair in charge of the Enterprise. Troi finally was written not as a psychologist, but as a Starfleet officer first.
Troi's accent was also a changeable feature of the character. Originally, Sirtis—who in real life speaks with an English accent—created an exotic-sounding, almost Slavic accent for the character, which she has described as being based on the accent of an Israeli friend. Her efforts at creating a sound for citizens of Betazed were for naught when actors using American accents began playing other Betazoids. Over the course of the series, Troi's accent was gradually toned down to the point that, by the TNG theatrical films, it was a regular mid-Atlantic accent.
Other appearances
Besides being a regular in TNG and its movies, Troi appeared in three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager toward the end of its run and in the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise.
Key episodes and milestones
Episodes in which Troi's character is expanded or takes a key role:
- "Encounter at Farpoint" - character introduction
- "Haven" - meets her betrothed
- "The Child" - becomes pregnant
- "The Loss" - loses her empathic abilities for a brief time
- "Disaster" - assumes command of the Enterprise after a disaster
- "Thine Own Self" - promoted to commander
- "Face of the Enemy" - abducted and coerced to pose as a Romulan
- "Star Trek: Nemesis" - marries Riker
References
- ^ "STARFLEET PERSONNEL FILE: Troi, Deanna". Retrieved 2006-12-27.